the All-Star game, has been named captain of the National L

RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif. - About an hour before first pitch, Clayton Kershaw sits in the middle of left field, not stretching. Two months since his last start, hes alone, with his hat on and his knees bent, lost in thought. The crowd of reverent fans, many clad in Dodger blue with No. 22 on their backs, form a mass on the left-field wall and raise their phones above their heads and to the right, as if drawn to a magnet.This isnt Dodger Stadium but LoanMart Field -- home to the Quakes, the Dodgers Class A advanced affiliate. And for the past hour, starting at around 5 p.m., fans have been lining up and piling in, ready to see the best pitcher on the planet pitch against the Modesto Nuts.News came the day before that Kershaw would start here as part of a rehab assignment, his first live-game action since June 26 in Pittsburgh. Saturday nights are already the most popular, because its fireworks night, said Mike Lindskog, the voice of the Quakes on FoxSports 1350. But when the word came that Kershaw was pitching, it took 30 minutes to sell out.Fans quickly noticed the difference. It only gets anywhere close to this on bobblehead nights, one fan said.At 7:05 p.m. Kershaw took the mound, wearing home white and No. 40, every eye in the ballpark fixated on the mound. Few of the 4,700 in attendance milled about at concessions or the team store. Everyone wanted to see the star throw.Kershaw started with two easy strikeouts and retired the third batter with a grounder to short. Another strikeout started the second. On the next batter, Kershaw threw one of those curveballs that floats over the top, then drops in for a strike, eliciting rousing oohs and aahs from the crowd. He got his fifth strikeout to open the third, then allowed his only hit when Modestos Robbie Perkins dribbled a ball just past home plate and catcher Will Smith?was off target on the throw to first. A 6-4-3 double play ensured Kershaw left the game with no balls making it out of the infield.And just like that, after some 20 minutes on the mound Kershaw was done. He threw 34 pitches on the night, 23 of which were strikes, with his fastball hitting 94 mph. After leaving the game, Kershaw threw about 15 more pitches in the bullpen to reach his pitch count. The crowd congregated again along the left-field wall, phones in hand, peering over each other at Kershaw working.Hes obviously the best pitcher Ive ever caught, said Smith, a Dodgers first-round selection out of Louisville in 2015. I got to learn a bit from him.The biggest differences, Smith said, were in Kershaws command and sequence of pitches. His slider was nasty, and his fastball was pretty good. That curveball, which wasnt really on tonight, but when hes got that on, you can see why hes NL MVP.It was when talking about the curveball, which Kershaw himself said wasnt up to par, that Smith had the widest eyes.After Kershaw left the bullpen, the mass of fans drifted to the nondescript green door marking the home teams clubhouse exit. A metal gate and a law enforcement officer stood between the fans and the door, and the crowd ballooned up the stairway for more than half an hour, waiting for Kershaw to come out. Where is Clayton Kershaw? one girl asked loudly of her mother.Finally, Kershaw emerged, taller than the fans and employees. Wearing a dark blue shirt and blue equipment bag over his right shoulder, he walked slowly down the outdoor corridor with fans following in a trail outside the gate. He didnt smile and didnt speak, looking calm but tired. He stopped near the front of the gate and signed some balls amid clamoring cheers. He walked past more crowd, signed more balls and exited toward a black Suburban.After the start, Kershaw said he thought hed pitch in the majors in four or five days, and Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has since confirmed hell be back on the mound in Miami on Friday. But for one night in Rancho Cucamonga, with just three innings pitched, Kershaw was the main event.With the black Suburban gone, the crowd dispersed back into the corridors and the walkways to catch the rest of the game. But one member of the Quakes staff stood for a moment, looking back at the now deserted gate, and said, That was awesome.Cheap Carlos Zambrano Jersey . In taking its goal tally to 99 in all competitions already this season, City delivered another demonstration of its lethal firepower at Etihad Stadium to set up a fourth-round match at home to another second-tier team -- Watford. Cheap Cubs Jerseys Authentic . Now, with Game 6 set for Fenway Park and an 8:07 p.m. ET first pitch, the Detroit Tigers face the unenviable task of having to beat the Boston Red Sox twice, on the road, to advance to the World Series. http://www.cheapcubsjerseysshop.com/ . I cant pinpoint a date, but I do remember a player from my youth. Brian Downing was with the Chicago White Sox at a time when I listened to every game I possibly could on the radio. That particular season the late great Harry Caray was calling the White Sox games. Cheap Billy Williams Jersey . Murray beat Sam Querrey 7-6 (5), 6-7 (3), 6-1, 6-3 to clinch Britains opening-round victory against the United States on Sunday at Petco Park. "Im proud of the way Im playing just now, because I had to do a lot of work to get back to where I want to be," Murray said after celebrating with his teammates on the red clay court in a temporary stadium in left field of the downtown home of baseballs San Diego Padres. Cheap Ryne Sandberg Jersey . Carey Price didnt, but he still came out on top against one of his rivals for the No. 1 job at the Sochi Games. The Anahim Lake, B.C., native was stellar in making 39 saves in his home province and Lars Eller got credit for a bizarre short-handed winner as the Canadiens defeated the Canucks 4-1.NEW YORK -- David Wright and Robinson Cano are going to give the Home Run Derby a New York feel. Wright, the third baseman for the New York Mets, this years host for the All-Star game, has been named captain of the National League team. Cano, the crosstown rival Yankees second baseman, is going to lead the AL squad for the second straight year. The derby is scheduled for July 15 at Citi Field as part of All-Star weekend festivities in New York City.dddddddddddd Wright and Cano will choose three teammates each. Last year, Cano was roundly booed for bypassing Royals star Billy Butler when the event was in Kansas City. Cano won the derby in 2011 and Wright was runner-up in 2006. ' ' '